Mennonite Heritage Center
Welcome Center
Mennonite Heritage Center is the Welcome Center for the Lower Salford and Franconia Townships region of the Route 113 Heritage Corridor Tour.
When William Penn formed a colony in the New World he promised religious tolerance to all who would settle here. The Mennonites, an Anabaptist reformation group who had been persecuted in Europe for their religious beliefs, welcomed Penn's invitation. They established their first Pennsylvania settlement in Germantown in 1683 and quickly expanded into the fertile farmlands of southeastern Pennsylvania. Their descendants, congregations, businesses and traditions have helped shape the fabric of this area ever since. Come celebrate and learn more about the rich culture of these people.
Part museum, part library, the Mennonite Heritage Center tells the story of Mennonite faith and life in the region. See a video documentary and permanent and changing exhibits on historical and faith themes. Do your own research in the historical library and archives. View traditional Pennsylvania German folk art made by local and regional Mennonites—artistic treasures like fraktur, grain painting, wood carvings and scherenschnitte (scissor-cutting art). Or make them yourself at a Saturday folk art workshop! Check the calendar for evening programs and seasonal events like the "Apple Butter Frolic," the Center's fall harvest festival, and December's Pennsylvania German Folk Art Sale.
